Rahul Dravid is reportedly set to rejoin Rajasthan Royals as their head coach for the 2025 IPL season after concluding his tenure as India's head coach in June. Dravid, who guided India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup—their first ICC title since the 2013 Champions Trophy—is now poised to bring his expertise back to the Royals, a franchise that hasn't won the IPL title since its inaugural season in 2008.
As per a report by ESPNCricinfo, Dravid has signed a deal with Rajasthan Royals, a team he knows well, having previously served as captain in 2012 and 2013, and later as team director and mentor in 2014 and 2015. Additionally, Vikram Rathour is expected to join the coaching staff as an assistant coach, while Kumar Sangakkara, the Royals' director of cricket since 2021, will shift focus to managing the franchise's international teams in the SA20 and CPL.
Dravid's last stint with the Royals ended in 2016, after which he moved to Delhi Daredevils before becoming the head of the National Cricket Academy in 2019. He was appointed India's head coach in 2021, a role he held for three years.
Rajasthan Royals are hopeful that Dravid's leadership will help them clinch their second IPL title. The team finished as runners-up in 2022, but struggled to reach the finals in 2023. In the 2024 season, they reached Qualifier 2 but were eliminated by Royal Challengers Bangalore.